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Pirate Party on the Beach

This family-friendly event features two days of activities designed to bring out the “pirate” in everyone!  Costume contests, games, a treasure hunt, pirate re-enactors, and movie on the beach all combine to celebrate those scallywags we all wish we could be: pirates!

When arriving at the Pirate Party on the Beach, beware of those scurvy scallywags, The Moody Crewe.  These pirate re-enactors will be posing for photographs, singing sea shanties, and demonstrating swordplay!  Don’t worry, though!  The Moody Crewe loves landlubbers, and this merry band of pirates will entertain as well as educate!  Joining the Moody Crewe will be the Devil’s Deckhands, York Privateers, and Overland Crew.

On Friday night gather your family and friends and embark on a search for Cap’n Pete’s Treasure, buried somewhere on the beach.  Unravel the clues, and YOU may be the ones to discover the buried treasure!

Saturday features a full day of activities.  An exciting, high-energy 30-minute show by the Shadow Players Stage Combat Group will feature actors in authentic costumes, stunts, sword-play, and audience interaction.  The show will be presented several times throughout the day.

Pirate band The Brigands will perform on Saturday.  Music was critical to the sailing of wooden vessels. It kept the hands working and pulling in unison, through storm and wind and calm. The Brigands bring the music from the deck the pirate ship ashore for you to enjoy. Their music is a bit rowdy, always fun, and sure to get your blood pumping. Thrill to the calls for “All hands to make sail. Trice up and lay out! “. The Brigands have been called the ultimate pirate band, music that could have been heard in any dockside tavern, where sailors, pirates, buccaneers and privateers all came, to spend their hard earned ( or ill gotten) money, drinking and singing the songs of the era. The Brigands also perform a full Black Powder cannon and small arms demonstration, showing audiences the main weapons that pirates used to become the best known pre-emptive marine salvage experts in the world. The Brigands demonstrate flintlock pistols, muskets and of course, their beloved cannons!

Enter your team in the Pirates Challenge, which will test your skill in several physical challenges, all pirate-themed.  Winning teams receive cash prizes and trophies!  There is an entry fee for teams in the Pirates Challenge.  Click on the entry form below.

Dress like a pirate and take part in our costume contest!

Enjoy arts and crafts and displays by participating museum organizations:
Old Coast Guard Station
MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art)
Mariner's Museum
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum
Bacon's Castle
Old Cape Henry Lighthouse

Other activities throughout the day include arts and crafts, bandana-making, face-painting, storytelling, and strolling entertainers Overland Crew.

Pirate Party on the Beach is FREE and open to the public.

Friday, May 18, 2012

6:00pm-8:00pm, Family Treasure Hunt
8:00pm-10:00pm, Movie on the Beach: “Peter Pan” (2003)

Saturday, May 19. 2012

10:00am, Firing of the cannons, opening proclamation
10:30am, Storytelling (Captain William Passenger)
10:30am-10:45am, Overland Crew comedy & entertainment (roving)
10:45am, Weapons demonstration on the beach
11:00-11:45am, The Brigands (pirate band)
11:45am, Weapons demonstration on the beach
12:00pm-12:30pm, Shadow Players (Pirate stunt show)
12:30pm, Storytelling (Captain William Passenger)
12:30-12:45pm, Overland Crew comedy & entertainment (roving)
12:45pm, Weapons demonstration on the beach
1:00-1:45pm, The Brigands (pirate band)
1:45pm, Weapons demonstration on the beach
2:00pm-2:30pm, Shadow Players (Pirate stunt show)
2:30pm, Storytelling (Captain William Passenger)
2:30-2:45pm, Overland Crew comedy & entertainment (roving)
2:45pm, Weapons demonstration on the beach
3:00-3:45pm, The Brigands (pirate band)
3:45pm, Costume contest
4:00pm-4:30pm, Shadow Players (Pirate stunt show)
4:30pm-7:30pm, Pirate’s Challenge (Olympics on the beach)    
8:00pm-10:00pm, Bonfire on the beach with The Brigands (Brigands 8:30pm-9:15pm)

Pirate's Challenge, presented by Murphy's

The Moody Crewe Pirate’s Challenge will be a true test of your team’s strength, speed, agility and stamina. Ye’ll be needing someone who is strong of back to complete the “Rum Barrel Roll” and another who is fleet of foot for the “Cannon Ball Haul”.  To “Drag yer Swag” ye’ll need someone with arms like a blacksmith and then to “Pace the Poop Deck” another who is agile as a cat. Aye, and I suppose should warn ye; there’ll a bit o’ sword play involved if ye intend to finish the challenge.

Click to enter a team in the Pirate's Challenge

Are ye strong enough? Are ye fast enough? Are ye pirate enough?

Well, Arrr ye?